Improvement in earth-closets



3 Sheets-Sheet I.

I. FOWLER. Earth-Closet. No. 222,581. Patented Dec. 16, I879.

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3 SheetsPSheet 2.

F. FOWLER.

Earth-Closet. No. 222,58I. Patented Dec. 16, 1879.

FIG. 5.

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'3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1-". FOWLER. Barth-Closet. No. 222,581. Patented Dec.16, 1879.

f d- I a i i 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK FOWLER, OF DEFRING, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT lN- EARTH-CLOSETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222,581, dated December16, 1879; application filed April 12, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK FOWLER, of Deering, in the county ofCumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Earth-Closets; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing. is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

Figure l is a sectional view of the chair and parts. Fig. 2 is a detailof double covers. Fig. 3 is a rear view of chair. Fig. 4 is a detail ofregulating cut-off. Fig. 5 is the removable seat. Fig. 6 is a detail ofreceiving-box.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of an improvement inthat article of man ufacture known as earth closets, made andconstructed in the form of a chair, convenient for the use of invalidsand others.

It consists of the combination ofia chairback, having within a reservoiror receptacle for holding dry earth, a chute or regulating cut-oftoperated by an arrangement of levers, a bowl, and a receiving removablebox, as herein described.

lt consists, further, in the combination of the removable receiving-box,with metallic sides, and a hinged solid back to the lower part of thechair and its bowl.

It consists, further, in the combination, with the seat, of a doublecover, in a manner hereinafter described.

a shows the hollow back or reservoir to receive the earth. b is a hingedcover to an opening thereto, with cloth side pieces. This door when openadmits of the introduction of the earth into the hollow back orreceptacle. It may be closed and fastened in any wellknown manner.

At the bottom of the hollow back or reservoir is a chute, c, to conveythe earth through an aperture in the bowl upon the fzeces in thereceiving-box. This conduit is at its upper end as wide as thereceptacle for the earth, and is narrowed to the proper width to fitinto the aperture in the bowl. In this chute or conduit is fitted acut-off valve, a, which exactly fills and fits the inside space of thechute where it is inserted. This valve is hung upon a crossbar, d, whichplays into an opening or slit across the top side of the chute. Attachedto this cross-bar are two side arms, 0 6, working in guides f f on eachside of the chute. At their lower ends these two side arms are againrigidly connected by the yoke f. The two side arms project sufficientlyfar belowthe bottom side of the chute to permit of the rise and fall ofthe yoke f.

g shows a horizontal lever, pivoted to the inside of the chair-frame ath. At its oppo site end there is attached to it a pull-up rod, 17, whichrod projects up through the seat of the chair, and is lifted by the userof the chair, as common.

The horizontal lever h is connected with the yoke f by a loose link, inorder to admit of the straight or vertical movement of the valve. Theoperation of this combination is manifest. By pulling upon thelifting-rod, a certain quantity of earth is admitted from the reservoirthrough the chute and bowl into the receivin gbox. When the rod ispushed down the falling of the earth is intercepted.

j shows the removable receiving-box, having a circular aperture on thetop, which is intended to receive the lower end of the bowl. This boxhas a lip or flange extending around the hole. One part of the flange ishigher than the other part, and is intended to encircle one-half of thecircumference of the bottom of the-bowl. The 0' er part of the flangepasses inside of a projecting flaitge, k, on the lower end of the bowl.the receiving-box is shown at l, and is used for convenience of emptyingthe same. The box is also provided within with converging sides, for thesame object.

The metallic sides of the chair seat or bottom are shown at m, and thehinged back at The removable top of I This under seat is held in placewhen not used by the elliptical projection above spoken of titting intoits hole, and thus uniting it with the outer part of the hinged cover.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the hollow bark or reservoir (1, cover I), chutec, valve (1, crossbar d, arms 0 c, gnidesff, yokef, lever g, and rod 2',with the bowl and receiving-box, to operate as herein set forth.

2. The combination of the removable receiving-box, with its aperture,flanges, removable top, and converging sides, with the hon] having theflange 7.", the metallic sides of the chair m, and the hinged back n, asherein set forth.

3. In combination with the fixed seat and its hole, the cover q, theinterior cover 8, and the projection r, as herein set; forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own 1 afiix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

FRANK FOWLER.

\Vitnesses WILLIAM HENRY CLIFFORD, II. t BRIGGS.

